COPENHAGEN, Denmark — President Barack Obama is going to Copenhagen after all to support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics.

Obama plans to leave Washington on Thursday, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said Monday, getting to Denmark in time to be part of his adopted hometown's final presentation to the International Olympic Committee.

"His physical presence ... puts a huge exclamation point on the support of the bid and the support of the Olympic movement," Chicago 2016 chairman Pat Ryan said.

The question remains whether his presence will give Chicago an edge over Madrid, Tokyo and slight favorite Rio de Janeiro in Friday's vote, which is expected to be close. While IOC president Jacques Rogge has said government leaders aren't expected to make an appearance, their presence has been instrumental.

When London sought the 2012 Olympics, Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie, went to Singapore ahead of the vote and spent two days lobbying IOC members.

Two years later, Vladimir Putin did much the same thing as Russian president in support of Sochi's bid for the 2014 Olympics. He also delivered his portion of the final presentation in English.

Obama will have little, if any, time to meet personally with IOC members — but his wife, Michelle, will. She plans to spend Wednesday and Thursday meeting individual members, and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett sat down with Blair last week for advice on how best to navigate the process.

"One conversation or one example or illustration that connects could make the difference," Michelle Obama said.

Obama's power and personality will make an impact, IOC executive board member Gerhard Heiberg said. But members have already spent much time studying each bid and reading the evaluation committee's report.

"I am not sure that it is the best thing that could happen," Heiberg said.

Obama is the first sitting U.S. president to personally lobby the IOC at a host city vote. When New York City bid for the 2012 Games, Hillary Rodham Clinton, then a senator, was the highest-ranking U.S. official to attend.